Ghana News Agency

Saturday 31st May, 2014

Accra, May 31, GNA - The ECOWAS
Authority of Heads of State and Government has expressed concern over the
recent security situation in Kidal, northern Mali and the bloody attacks
perpetrated by Boko Haram in parts of Northern Nigeria.
The Authority strongly condemned
these acts of terrorism as well as kidnapping and hostage-taking and expressed
solidarity with the people of Mali and Nigeria in

Accra, May 31, GNA - The ECOWAS
Authority of Heads of State and Government has expressed concern over the
recent security situation in Kidal, northern Mali and the bloody attacks
perpetrated by Boko Haram in parts of Northern Nigeria.

The Authority strongly condemned
these acts of terrorism as well as kidnapping and hostage-taking and expressed
solidarity with the people of Mali and Nigeria in these difficult times.

Mr Kadre Desire Quedraogo,
President of the ECOWAS Commission was presenting the finale communique at the
end of the Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and
Government in Accra.

The communique among others highlighted
recent separatist attacks in Kidal, the Boko Haram menace in northern Nigeria
as well as other security threats among ECOWAS member-states.

The Authority reaffirmed its
determination to actively combat the threats posed by terrorism to regional and
international peace and security, while endorsing the main recommendations
contained in the various reports, the Heads of State and Government took.

He said on the security situation
in Northern Mali, the Heads of State and Government condemned the deplorable
acts of violence and killing perpetrated by separatist and terrorist groups in
Kidal and its adjoining towns in the North as well as the hostage-taking and
seizing of administrative buildings in that part of the Malian territory
between 17 and 21 May 2014.

He said the Authority believes
that the assassination of defenseless civil servants in the performance of
their duties constitutes a flagrant and deliberate violation of the Ouagadougou
Agreement.

Mr Quedraogo noted that the
Authority has requested that the perpetrators of these atrocities are
identified and punished according to the law.

He reaffirmed the Authority’s
commitment to preserve the unity, territorial integrity and the secular nature
of the Malian State and demands the immediate withdrawal of the armed groups
from the public buildings and occupied areas, and return to the pre-17 May
positions.

He said the Authority has invited
the United Nations Security Council to enhance MINUSMA’s mandate and strength
to enable it to carry out its mission as guarantor in the application of the
Ouagadougou Agreement.

Mr Quedraogo stated that the
Authority welcomed the initiatives of the United.

Nations and the Current African
Union Chairman, President Mouhamed Ould Abdel Aziz, of the Islamic Republic of
Mauritania for facilitating the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the
Government and the non-state armed groups in Northern Mali on 23 May 2014.

The Authority urged all the
stakeholders to strictly adhere to the ceasefire agreement and ensure its
application, whilst the Malian Government, with support from the International
Community, finds a political solution to the issues at stake.

On the security situation in
northern Nigeria, the Authority welcomed the measures adopted by the Nigerian
government to bring the insurgency to an end, particularly in the Northern
States.

They encouraged President
Goodluck Jonathan to continue to be steadfast in mobilizing all the forces in
the country in order to put an urgent end to these acts of terrorism and
commended the mobilization of the International Community behind Nigeria.

He said the Authority expressed
its appreciation to France, the United States, the United Kingdom, People’s
Republic of China, Israel, the African Union and the United Nations for their
cooperation and support in the ongoing efforts to rescue the abducted Chibok’s
schoolgirls by Boko Haram as well as in the ongoing fight against this
terrorist group.

He said the Authority has
commended President John Dramani Mahama, Current Chairman of the Authority of
Heads of State and Government for the steps taken to provide a regional
response to the security challenge posed by the Boko Haram.

He said the Authority urged the
Member States to strengthen their cooperation, particularly, in information
sharing and in coordinating the efforts of intelligence services and in law
enforcement.

Mr Quedraogo said the Authority
has welcomed the successful conclusion of the transition process in Guinea
Bissau, which resulted in the smooth holding of the general elections in
transparent and peaceful conditions.

He said the summit commended
Manuel Sérifo Nhamajo, Interim President, the Transitional Government, the
Electoral Management Bodies, the political parties and the entire people of
Guinea Bissau for their self-sacrifice and determination in bringing the
transitional process to a successful end.

The Authority called for the
forging of national consensus and mobilization of all the forces in the country
towards the urgent post-electoral task in Guinea Bissau. The Heads of State and
Government encouraged the incoming administration to adopt an all-inclusive
governance system.

The Authority urged them to adopt
and implement a comprehensive reform agenda, with the assistance of ECOWAS and
all the International Community, encompassing national dialogue and
reconciliation, economic recovery, reform of state’s institutions, and
processes to sustain the stabilization and recovery efforts.